Gas lift pump



E. D. SMYSER GAS LIFT PUMP Filed Aug. 15, 1942 .IIII 1 f 4 .x i 4s WJ... l

l March 2l, 1944.

ATTnPA/K I Patented Mar. 21, 1944 LUNITED `STATES PATENT yOFFICE GAS LIFT PUMP Elmer D. Smyser, Torrance, Calif.

Application August 15, 1942,- Serial No. 454,939

7 Claims.

My invention relates to the pumping art and, more particularly, to a fluid operated pumping device.

The invention has particular utility in pumping from oil wells and will be described in connection with such use. It will be understood, however, that the invention is susceptible of other uses and I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment and use of the invention described.

In the art it is old and well known to provide a displacement pump in which oil to be pumped is intermittently admitted to a displacement chamber from which the oil is raised into a production tubing by the application of gas pressure applied thereto. My invention is an improvement on such displacement pumps, having many novel features as pointed out hereinafter.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide such a displacement pump in which the gas pressure applied to the oil in the displacement chamber is prevented from acting directly on the oil in the well, thus preventing back pressure on the oil producing formation of the well. This is an important feature of the invention, as such back pressure on the formation tends to reduce, and sometimes entirely stops, the flow of oil from the producing Well formation into the well, particularly where the natural formation pressure is relatively low. I`V prefer to accomplish this by at all times maintaining the oil to be pumped and the gas with which the pumping is eifected in a closed operating system sep-r arated by suitable valve means from the oil in the well.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a displacement pump in which the oil in the Well is alternately introduced into the displacement chamber by the jetting action of a gas ,iet and alternately removed from the chamber by` theapplication of the gas under pressure to -the body of oil in the chamber to displace the rotation of one of the strings of tubing, and preferably by rotation of the production tubing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and the drawing, Which is for the purpose of illustration yand is provided with an exhaust pipe I3 communicating with the space between the casing I0 and the gas tubing I2. The casing head II is also provided with a gas supply pipe III which communicates with the upper end of the gas tubing I2.

The upper end of the casing head II is provided with suitable packing I5 through which extends an inner production tubing II which extends downwardly within the gas tubing I2. The upper end of the 'production tubing Il is provided with a supporting head I8 supported for rotation on the upper end of the casing head II by suitable bearings I9. A gear 20 is formed on the supporting head I8 and engages a driving gear 2| which is operatively connected to a power source 22 which is preferably an electric motor connected through suitable gear reduction means to the driving gear 2I so as to be adapted to rotate the driving `gear at relatively low speed. The upper end of the production tubing I`I extends into and is suitably secured in a suitable swivel 24, of any type well known in the art, which in turn is connected to a production pipe 25.

Connected to the lower end of the gas tubing l2 is the pump means 26 of my invention, the same being shown in detail in Fig. 2. The pump means 26 includes an upper head 2'I which is suitably threaded to the lower end of the gas tubing I2 and to the upper end of an outer pump shell 21a. The lower end of the outer pump shell 21a is suitably threaded to a lower head 28 to which in turn is suitably threaded a perforated bull plug 29 which, however, may be dispensed with if desired.

T'ne production tubing l'l is provided adjacent its lower end, but above the upper head 2'3, with an annular flange 3l which forms the upper race of a thrust bearing 32 supported on the upper end of the upper head 2, the thrust bearing serving to support the production tubing Il rotatably upon the upper head 2l. Also threadedly secured to the lower end of the upper head 21 is the upper end of an inner shell 33 which extends downwardlywithin the outer shell 2id, forming an'lannular spacev 3ft therebetween,A and being threadedly secured at its lower end to the upper end of the lower head 28.

The interior Y of the inner shell 33 forms a displacement cham-V l ber 35, into which extends the lower end oi the production tubing I'i, in which isprovided an upwardly opening check valve 33. Y

Formed in the upper head 2'! a-regasinlet ports 33 and 39 which are diametrically disposc-zd,and` which are adapted to alternatively communicate between the lower end ofthe gastubing l2 and a'semicircular annular channel 4E! formed int-he outer surface of the productiontubing Il; Also formed in th'e-upper'head 2l isa -first passage H- communicating withthe upper end of the annular space 34 between thefinner'and outer shells' 33 and 21a, respectively, and adapted to communicate with the annular channel 40 formedin the productiontubing le?. Also formed in the upperhead 21 is a second passage lfwhich communicates with the upper end of the displacement chamber and is adapted to communicate with the annular channel itil. The lower end of the upper head 2l isprovided with a'tubular projection-43 having a port irtherein which` is adapted 'to registerwith a lower annular channel 46 formed onk thevproduction tubing -l'l below the annularV channel 4Q. Substantially vertically disposed above theport 45 is an eX haustport d'iwhich communicates with the space between thelpump means 26 and the casing il).

-The lower head 28 is provided with an internal nipple 48 Which-extends upwardly within a sleeve f3.9 suitably secured to the lower head 28 and projecting upwardly.. into the displacement chamber 35. The nipple'llB-is' provided with an internal passage 5,0. which' communicates. with the annular space 34, the innerrend of the nipple being provided with a suitable jet or nozzle 5i which is -pointed upwardlytoward the displacement' chamber'35. The lower head 2 8-is provided with an inlet 53 in which is provided an inlet valvev meansnll whichA includes an upwardly opening check valve element 55. The inlet. valve means 54 isheld. in place by a ,Skeeter bill 55 which extends downwardly into the perforated bull plug 251 the bull, plug and `the Skeeter bill forming whatis known, in the artas a poor mans gas.

ancho r=,ww hich, if desired, may be omitted.v

4vIn operation, the bull plug 2.9 is submerged in the fluidin, the well, which flows into the casing il throughperforations 5l. provided at the lower end thereof, and opens the check valve of the inlet valve means l, and ows upwardly through the inlet 53 and the sleeve i8 into the displacement chamber 35. The production tubing I 'l is slowly rotatedby means of the power source 22 `operating,through thegears 2l and 2D. During such rotation, when the Darts are in the positions shown in the drawing, gas under relatively high' pressure is conveyed downwardly through thegas tubing 4larrom the gas supply pipe i5 which is suitably connected to a suitable source of gas (not shown), and thisgas enters the upper head 2l through the gas inlet port 38 and passes therethrough, through the segmental channel 41], and the second passage 42 into the upper end of the displacement chamber 35. At this time, the lower annular channel 46 is out of registry with the port 45, and the gas admitted to the displacement chamber from the second passage 42 exerts a downward pressure on the top of any well huid trapped in the displacement chamber 35, forcing the same Vupwar ly into the lower end of the production tubing; Ill-fand past the check valve 33 therein, by which such fluid is trapped in the production tubing, until the level of well fluid in the displacement chamber Ydrops below the lower end of the production tubing. Upon continued rotation of the production tubing I1, the annular channel "i6 passes out of registryV with the gas inlet port 33 and registersvwith the gas inlet port 39. At substantially the same time, the lower annular channel ll. registers withthe exhaust port 4l, thus opening to exhaust pressure theI upper end of the displacement chamber 35 through the port G5, the

vlower end of the production tubing I1, this letting action of the jet 5l draws additionalwell fluid through the check valve 55V and the inlet 5,3:upwardly throughthe sleeve 49 into the displace.- ment chamber*V 35 so as totend to nllthe same with well uid from thewell. Since the upper end of the displacement chamber 35 is open to. well pressure through the exhaustport l'Lthe. displacement chamber 35 continues to ll with well fluid until such time as it is either filled therewith or the production tubinghas rotated.k

toa point where therexhaust port 41is again closed andA theparts are substantially in the positions shown in` the drawing, at which timeA the displacementV cycle recommences. Thus, Well iiuid is alternatively drawn into the displacement chamber 35 by the jetting action of the jet' 5| and is then displaced from the displacement chamber by the action offgas under high pres-A sure exerted on the top of the. column of Vfluid in the displacement chamber, theV displacedr fluid flowing upwardly through the production tubmgn; v. Although I have shown and "described a pre- `ferred embodimentjof my invention, it will be understood'that certain parts, and elements ofv my device maybe replaced by other Vparts and elements having similar functions'without departing from the spirit of my invention,and'therefore I do not intend to be limited to the specific embodiment dis-closed but desire to be aiorded the full scope of the-followingclai'ms.

I claim`V as my invention n 1. Ina well pump, the combinatio'nof: `a pump `body providedyvith a chamber therein and having an inlet', an outlet, a pressure intake port, and a pressurev exhaust port; inlet valve means in said inlet adapted torpermit a flow of liquid through said inlet-into saidIk chamber but preventing a. reversenewI thereof; ,ietf means .in said inlet andl directed toward said chamber; a gas passage communicating with said jet means; and main valve means adapted to connect alternatively said pressureintake port with either said chamber or said gas passage, said main valve means also connecting said chamber with saidl pressure exhaustport when said pressure intake port is connected to said gas passage.

2. In a well pump, the lcombination of: a pump body provided with a chamber therein and having aninlet; anoutlet, a pressure intake port, and a pressure exhaust port; inlet valve means in said inlet adapted to permit a ilow of liquid through said inlet into said chamber but preventing a reverse ilow thereof; jet means in said inlet directed toward said chamber; a gas passage communicating with said jet means; main valve means adapted in response t rotation to connect alternatively said pressure intake port with either said chamber or said gas passage, said main valve means also connecting said chamber with said pressure exhaust port when said pressure intake port is connected to said gas passage; and means for rotating said valve means.

3. In a well pump, the combination of: a pump body provided with a chamber therein and having an inlet, an outlet, a pressure intake port, and a pressure exhaust port; inlet valve means in said inlet adapted to permit a iiow of liquid through said inlet into said chamber but preventing a reverse flow thereof; jet vmeans in said inlet directed toward said chamber; a gas passage communicating with said jet means; a iirst tubing connected to said pump body and communicating with said pressure intake port for supplying gas under pressure thereto; a second tubing within said first tubing and connected to said pump body and communicating with said outlet for receiving a production iiow therefrom; and main valve means operatively connected to said second tubing and adapted to connect alternatively said pressure intake port with either said chamber or said gas passage, said main valve means also .connecting said chamber with said pressure exhaust port when said pressure intake port is connected to said gas passage, said main valve means operating in response to rotation of said second tubing.

4. In a well pump, the combination of: an outer cylindrical shell; an upper head secured to one end of said outer shell; a lower head secured to the other end of said outer shell; an inner shell within and spaced from said outer shell and secured to said heads, the interior of said inner shell forming a displacement chamber; an inlet port in said lower head communicating between the lower end of said lower head and said displacement chamber; check valve means in said inlet port permitting a flow of well iluid through said inlet port into said displacement chamber but preventing a reverse ilow therethrough; jet means in said inlet port means and communicatin-g with said space between said shells for directing a jet of gas along said inlet port toward said displacement chamber; and valve means in said upper head, including a gas inlet port, a rst passage communicating between said gas inlet port and the space .between said shells, a second passage communicating with the upper end of said displacement chamber, and a third passage communicating between the upper end of said displacement chamber and the exterior of said upper head, and including a rotatable valve member adapted to alternatively connect said gas inlet port with either said first passage or said second gas inlet port is connected to said-first passa-ge.

5. In a well pump, the combination of an outer cylindrical shell; an upper head secured toA one end of said outer shell; a lower head secured to the other end` of said outer shell; an inner shell within and spaced from said outer shell to form a space therebetween and secured to said heads, the interior of said inner shell forming a displacement chamber; an inlet port in said lower head communicating between the lower end of said lower head and said displacement chamber;

check valve means in said inlet port permitting a ow of well iluid through said inlet port into said displacement chamber but preventing a reverse iow therethrough; fluid passage means communicating between said space and the lower end of said chamber; jet means in the line of said iiuid passage means; and valve means in said upper head, including a gas inlet port, a. iirst passage communicating between said gas inlet port and said space, a second passage communieating with the upper end of said chamber, and a third passage communicating between the upper end of said chamber and the exterior of said upper head, and including a rotatable valve member adapted to alternatively connect said gas inlet port with either said first passage or said second passage and to open said third passage when said gas inlet port is connected to said rst passage.

6. In a well pump, the combination of: an outer cylindrical shell; an upper head secured to one end of said outer shell; a lower head secured to the other end of said outer shell; an inner shell within and spaced from said outer shell to form a space therebetween and secured to said heads, the interior of said inner shell forming a displacement chamber; an inlet port in said lower head communicating between the lower end of said lower head and said displacement chamber; check valve means in said inlet port permitting a flow of well uid through said inlet port into said displacement chamber but preventing a reverse flow therethrough; fluid passage means communicating .between said space and the lower end of said chamber; jet means in the line of said fluid passage means; valve means in said upper head, including a gas inlet port, a first passage communicating between said gas inlet port and said space, a second passage communicating with the upper end of said chamber, and a third passage communicating between the upper end of said chamber and the exterior of said upper head, and including a rotatable valve member adapted to alternatively connect said gas inlet port with either said rst passage or said second passage and to open said third passage when said gas inlet port is connected to said rst passage; and a rotatable tubing having its lower end operatively attached to said valve means.

7. In a well pump, the combination of: an outer cylindrical shell; an upper head secured to one end of said outer shell; a lower head secured to the other end of said outer shell; an inner shell within and spaced from said outer shell to form a space therebetween and secured to said heads, the interior of said inner shell forming a displacement chamber; an inlet port in said lower head communicating between the lower end of said lower head and said displacement chamber; check valve means in said inlet port permitting a ilow of well iluid through said passage and to opensaid third passage when said 4i averi-45744 inlet port' into. said' displacement'. chamber but'v means in said-upper head; including a gaslinlety port,` a -rst :passage communicating between said-f gas inlet porty and' said spacei a second'passage communieatingv with the upper -endI-of 'said chamber, and `a third passage lcornmunicati=ng-between the upper end ofvr said'chamber and'theexterior of said upper head',. and including: a rotatable valve member adapted to alternatively connect said gas inlet port with. either said flrstzpassage or said second passage andi to open said third: passage when said gas inlet port is connected toA said rst passage; a rotatable tubing/having its.

lower end operatively attached to said valve means.; and'anti-friction bearing means disposed between said rotatable tubing and saidupper head and adapt-ed to support the weight of saidl ro- 10 tatable tubing.

ELMER D; SMYSER. 

